Bookholder



Oct. 11, 132. w. v. JOHNSON BOOKHOLDER Filed May 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Shet 1 gwwmtoz W J07: 71-6 on Oct. 11, 1932. w. v. JO.HNSON BOOKHOLDER Filed May 29. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwoentoz W. 1 Johna a 71 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 PATENT? OFFICE WILLIAM V. JOHNSON; OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOOKHOLDER Application filed May 29, 1930. Serial No. 457,481.

This invention relates to a book holder, and the inventionhas for an object to provide a device of this kind which permits a book to be supported in a position tobest comply with the convenience of the reader, togetherwith means to substantially eliminate the liability of the book being laccidentally displaced.

Furthermore, it1is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which operates in,a mannerrto maintain a book in openposition and in a wa readily permitting the required turningo the-pages;

Another object of the invention is, to provide a device of this character including two holding elements supported for relative movement whereby automatic compensation is provided for variance in the back ofthe book as the pages are turned, thus assuring the open book at all times being properly positioned for visual access by the reader.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved book holder wherebycertain important advantagesareattainedand the device rendered simpler, less expensiveand otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I i i The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.v

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now'proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein c Figure 1 is a view in top plan of my improved holder as herein employed,,the sup-' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 -3 ofFigure 2; I

Figure 4 is a detailedsectional'view taken substantially on the'line 44 of Figure 2. 7 As disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, 1 denotes an elongated member of desired size and which has 1 freely disposed through one end portion thereof an elongated shank 2 upon which is threaded a wing nut- 3 or the like for contact from above with the member 1. The end portion of the shank .v 2 below the member 1 is formed'to provide a fiat eye member 4 and this member at together with the adjacent portion of the shank 2 are received within a kerf 5 provided in a head-6 carried by the upper or outer end of m an elongated rod 7. This rod 7 is adjustably connected with a stand S which may beof the tripod, type or otherwise as preferred. This stands carries a clamping screw 8 "or the like for coaction with the rod 7 to elfectively hold the rod in desired selective 'endwiseadjustment. The head 6 together with the eye member 4 have disposed therethrough a pintle stud 9 or the like.

As is particularly illustrated in Figure 2, the outer portion of the;head 6 is disposed on a curvature, as at 10, concentriefto the pin tle stud 9 and the elongated member 1 is tangentially arranged with respect to such curved surface and is held at'the' desired selective angle relative to the horizontal or to the rod 7 by the clamping action of the wing nut'3.

The opposite end portion of the member 1, or the extremity thereof remote from the head 6 of the rod 7 is provided with an upstanding arm 11 tOWlllGh is secured a transversely disposed toggle member M, the central pivot 12 of the toggle member also serving as a means to provide the desired adjustment of the member M to the arm 11. The outer .pivots 14 of the toggle member M serve to operatively engage said member M with the similar end portions of the elongated parallel bars 15. v 7

These bars 15 are provided along their major lengths with the slots 16 whereby the headed members 17 carried by the crossed arms 18 provide means for slidably connecting the extremities of the arms 18 with-the bars 15. v The arms 18 are of equal length and have their central portions pivotally. connectedby an upstanding post 19 carried by the member 1 at a point in relatively close proximity to thehead 6. The arms 18 coaet with ber 1.

The forward extremities of the bars 15, or those end portions thereof remote from the toggle member M, are provided with substantially perpendicularly related plates 20 extending a desired distance above and below the bars. Each of these plates 20 is provided in its upper portion with an elongated open slot 21. The lower portion of each of the plates 20 in alignment with the slot 21 is provided with an opening 22, the bottom portion of which being provided with a relatively broad ledge 23. Insertible through the opening 22 and having endwise movement therethrough is a block 24, the forward end portion of whichbeing provided with an upstanding lug25 overlying the outer face of 1 the plate 20 and between which lug 25 and plate 20 is adapted to be firmly clamped or held the back or cover C of a book. The forward end of this block 24 at its lower portion is also provided with an outwardly directed relatively long arm 26. Threaded from below through the outer or free extremity of the arm 26 is ascrew member 27, the upper end portion of which being in swiveled connection, as at 28, with the plate 29.

The rear portion'of this plate 29 is provided with transversely spaced fingers 30 extending beyond opposite sides of the arm 26 whereby the plate 29 is held against rotary movement, yet at the same time permitting said plate 29 to be adjusted toward or from the arm 26. The outer face of the plate 29 has disposed thereo-ver a lamination 31 of soft rubber or kindred material which is adapted to have such contact with the leaves of a book to hold said leaves from flexing except when turned by the reader. v A similar block 24 is also disposed through the slot 21 and said block is of the same; construction as the first named block and has coacting therewith in the same manner a plate 29 although, as is clearly, illustrated in Figure 2, these plates 29 carried by each plate 20 are in opposed relationso as to have eifective coaction with the leaves of a book.

The rear portion of the lower block 24is fixed to a rod 32 extending in a direction lengthwise of the plate 20 and the upper block 24 is slidably engaged with its rod 32 so that the two blocks 24 may be adjusted one with respect to the other as occasioned by the size of the book to be applied to the holder.

.Mounted upon the rod 32 for swinging movement is a cam lever 33 which, when swung in one direction, has contact withthe rear face of the plate 20 resulting in rearward endwise movement being imparted to the blocks 24 and thus assuring the lugs 25 having effective clamping engagement with the cover 0 of an applied book.

It isbelieved to be understood that in prac-' tice the bars 15 may be readily adjusted one with respect to the other to compensate for books of various thicknesses and that as the leaves of the book are turned the bars 15 will have such relative endwise movement to compensate for the variance in the book back in order to maintain the exposed pages of the open book in proper position for visual access by the reader.

From the foregoing description it is thought be obvious that a book holder constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed. 7

I claim 1. A book holder-comprising two members provided with means for engaging the covers of a book with the back of the book positioned between. the members, substantially parallel bars carried by said members and having slots extending lengthwise thereof, a supporting element, a pair of crossed arms pivotally connected to each other andto the supporting element, the extremities of said arms being slidably engaged within the solts of the bars and toggle means carried by said bars coacting with said arms in maintaining said bars in parallel relation. I t I 2. A book holder comprising two members provided with means for engaging the covers of a book with the back of the book positioned between the members, a supportin g element, a pair of crossed levers pivotally connected to each otherand to the supporting element, bars carriedby the members, coacting means carried by the bars and the crossed levers for slidably connecting the crossed levers to the bars, a toggle member pivotallv connecting one end of each bar together for relative movement, and means for .pivotally connecting the toggle member to the supporting element.

3. A book holder comprising, in combination, an elongated member and anchoring means coacting with said member. an arm extending from said member, a post extending from said member in the same general direction as the arm, a toggle member secured intermediate its ends to the arm,

crossed levers pivotally connected to each other and to the post, parallel bars, the toggle member being operatively connected with said bars, coacting means carried by the crossed levers and the bars for slidably engaging the crossed levers with the bars, and means carried by the bars for engaging the covers of a book with the back of the book positioned between the bars.

4. A book holder comprising two members, means for connecting said members for relative movement in a foreward and backward direction, blocks slidably disposed through each of the members, said blocks having means coacting with the member for clamping a book cover to the member, a rod connecting the blocks, and means carried by the rod and coacting with the member for moving the blocks into clamping engagement with a book cover.

5. A book holder comprising two members,

means for connecting said members for relative movement in a forward and backward direction, blocks slidably disposed through each of the members, said blocks having means coacting with the member for clamping a book cover to the member, a rod connecting the blocks, means. carried by the rod and coacting with the member for moving the blocks into clamping engagement with a book cover, and leaf engaging means carried by the blocks.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM V. JOHNSON. 

